The drive from Wilmington, NC to Tarboro, NC covers 149.2 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Michael Jordan Highway, I 795, Faison Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.6 miles on Michael Jordan Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.6 miles from Wilmington, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 149.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Tarboro, NC covers 149.2 miles and takes about 3h, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Michael Jordan Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 64.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Martin Luther King Jr Parkway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
6.5 mi into trip|~10m in|US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132 / North College Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward NC 403: Faison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NC 403: Faison
4
116.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
127.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 35
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Michael Jordan Highway
64.6 mi
1h 9m
I 795
19.1 mi
20m
Faison Highway
18.4 mi
24m
Good News Church Road
13.1 mi
18m
I 587
10.6 mi
11m
NC 111
7.3 mi
11m
US 13
5.3 mi
6m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Michael Jordan Highway
— 64.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington, NC and Tarboro, NC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·South 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Keep slight right at fork onto Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
4.7 mi·6 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto US 117; NC 132
1.2 mi·1 min·North College Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on I 40; US 117; NC 132
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·Michael Jordan Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward NC 403: Faison
6
Turn right onto US 117 Connector; NC 403
18 mi·24 min·Faison Highway
7
Continue on US 13; US 117 Connector
5.3 mi·6 min·US 13; US 117 Connector
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on I 795
19 mi·20 min·I 795
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
10
Turn right onto US 301
0.5 mi·48 sec·US 301
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
12
Merge onto I 587; US 264
11 mi·11 min·I 587; US 264
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 35
14
Turn left onto NC 111; NC 222
0.2 mi·24 sec·NC 111; NC 222
15
Turn left onto NC 111
13 mi·18 min·Good News Church Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto NC 111; NC 122
7.1 mi·10 min·NC 111; NC 122
17
Turn right onto US 64 ALT; NC 111; NC 122
0.2 mi·22 sec·Western Boulevard
18
Turn left onto West Saint James Street
0.8 mi·2 min·West Saint James Street
19
Turn right onto Trade Street
22 ft·0 sec·Trade Street
20
Arrive at destination
Trade Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.6 miles from Wilmington, NC, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.6 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tarboro, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wilmington, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wilmington, NC
This is one driving day of about 149.2 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Wilmington, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Michael Jordan Highway for about 64.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.6 mi from Wilmington, NC
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 20.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.33 one way
$46.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.51
$51.02
premium
$4.70
$27.61
$55.23
diesel
$5.61
$32.94
$65.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
38 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
EV Connect Charging Station
Wilmington, North Carolina
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wilmington, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wilmington, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wilmington, North Carolina
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wilmington, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Leland, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Wallace, North Carolina
Tesla
1 DCFC
EV Connect: 10
ChargePoint: 10
Blink: 7
Other: 5
Tesla: 3
Tesla Destination: 1
Shell Recharge: 1
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
Efficient EV
37.3
0
$13.05
$5.97
EV Truck/SUV
59.7
0
$20.89
$9.55
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Wilmington, NC
Afternoon
in Wilmington on Friday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
W 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tarboro, NC
Afternoon
in Tarboro on Friday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mount Olive, NC
75 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
33 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Wilmington, NC to Tarboro, NC covers 149.2 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Michael Jordan Highway, I 795, Faison Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.6 miles from Wilmington, NC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Martin Luther King Jr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 117; NC 132 / North College Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Wilmington, NC to Tarboro, NC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
